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Choosing college

Choosing college. 2017 entry. Be aware:. College is increasingly competitive because: More adult learners are applying for training and skills development More pupils are using it as another route to a degree/university More people applying to university are also applying to college

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Choosing college

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  1. Choosing college 2017 entry

  2. Be aware: College is increasingly competitive because: • More adult learners are applying for training and skills development • More pupils are using it as another route to a degree/university • More people applying to university are also applying to college Some courses are more competitive than others (in the past these have included hair & beauty, childcare and sports-based courses). It is important to apply early for these.

  3. The process: • Research: courses and colleges. As well as Edinburgh you may want to apply to colleges in the Borders and Glasgow and so on. • Pick a course that will provide the right challenge and pathways (what do you need to get in and where could it lead?) • One choice only with Edinburgh College: Applications are online, via the website. Register with the college website first, then fill in your application. • Prepare your personal statement to highlight your skills, qualities, interest and suitability. • Apply, as soon as applications are open! Some courses will fill up soon.

  4. Research • Use the MyWorldOfWork website (Skills Development Scotland) to think about your future. The Course Search, Careers A-Z and interactive tools like My Strengths and About Me can help you narrow your ideas. • Spend time looking at the college website, thinking carefully about courses and which most appeal to you.

  5. Articulation • If a student performs well at college and gains strong grades, they may well be able to apply for entry into 2nd or 3rd year at university. • Example of pathway: NC Construction Skills SCQF Level 5 NC Built Environment SCQF Level 6 HNC Built Environment SCQF Level 7 HND Quantity Surveying SCQF Level 8 BSc Quantity Surveying SCQF Level 9 Heriot-Watt University

  6. Stage 1: the form and the Personal Statement Most of the application is very straightforward. The bit you need to spend longest on is the Personal Statement. This is roughly half a page of text for Edinburgh College applications. In it you want to make clear: • Why you are applying to that particular course • What skills, strengths and qualities you can bring to the course • What experience (if any) you can bring to the course • Any thoughts you have about where the qualification might lead you in the future • Positive reasons why the college should give you a place

  7. What to include in a College Application Statement: • Colleges are looking for you to answer four simple questions in your supporting statement:   • Why Do You Want To Study The Subject? • Here you need to talk about the passion you have for the course subject. • Are you hoping to build a career in the subject area?

  8. Show that you have an interest, using examples from your life • e.g. If you are applying for vehicle maintenance talk about when you fixed a bike at home and what this experience taught you. • The college do not want you to drop out of the course half-way through, show them that you won’t.

  9. What Makes You A Good Candidate For The Course? • Think hard about your strengths and how these suit the course (or the job that your course might lead to). • Show committment to and interest in the subject.

  10. What Relevant Experience Do You Have? • Discuss anything you have done that relates to the course topic. • Volunteering, hobbies, school work experience, courses or subjects that are relevant are all good to mention. • This does not need to be paid experience!

  11. Why Do You Want To Study At That Particular College? • They don’t want to hear that you are only interested because they are the closest college. • Look at the course page on the website, what about it specifically appeals to you, this shows that you have researched the course. • If you have had any good feedback on the college from parents or siblings or friends that has helped form your opinion, mention this.

  12. Some things to remember • Try to keep it to half an A4 page (3000 characters max). • You are trying to impress the college, if it only took you 10 minutes to write your statement, you haven’t given it enough thought! • Make sure that you write in full sentences, with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. • Avoid waffling! If you are struggling, structure your answer by the four questions (on the left) to keep it focused. • If you aren’t confident with paragraphs, try using bullet points to make yourself understood.

  13. Stage 2: after the application • Applications are processed in 6 week blocks. • Depending on the course, there may be an individual interview, a group interview, an audition, a skills test (or a combination of these). • Transition Forms – your guidance teacher will be asked to complete this by the college.

  14. Timescales • Research – start now. Most of the courses that colleges offer in 2017 will be the same as they offered previously, so spend time looking at college websites and consider which courses appeal to you. • Personal Statement – start now. As soon as you have identified a course, start putting it together. Do more than one draft. • January 16 – Edinburgh College applications open.

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